290 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



as sometimes is the case, with tlie consumer he has made phenominal 

 returns as compared with the average orcliard. Mr. Beavers keeps 

 hooks on his work and knows the amount of work put in and bushela 

 of apples produced. He knows what eacli bushel of fruit costs him 

 and what each bushel has brought him. 



In 1912, the first year he sprayed, he harvested on the sixteen 

 acres, 5,500 bushels of all grades of apples. That year the average 

 price which he received throughout the season was eighty-five cents. 

 In 1913, his crop amounted to 4,000 bushels and the average price, 

 received ninety cents per bushel. This year the crop will be around 

 '6,500 bushels. Although most of his crop yet remains to be disposed 

 of the prices already received and those at which he is now selling, 

 it would seem that he will get an average of better than sixty-five cents 

 a bushel. 



Although many orchards in the past three years have not pro- 

 duced enough fruit to pay for the use of the ground they occupy, 

 yet this orchard has produced large crops of fine fruit. Neighbors 

 who have the same soil, rainfall and same age orchards have not 

 received any crops and their orchards are in bad shape. What is the 

 cause? Why has Mr. Beavers' orchard prodHced in the past three 

 years approximately 16,000 bushels and sold for an average of eighty 

 cents per bushel? The answer is in using the right methods in care 

 and handling the orchard as a business proposition. This farm when 

 bought by Mr. Beavers cost about $150 per acre. Land in the same 

 vicinity without any improvements and used to raise general farm 

 crops is now held at around $300 per acre. Could corn and wheat be 

 grown on such high priced land and yield a profit on the investment? 

 Can apple growing on such land be made profitable? In answer to 

 the first question, no. In answer to the second, yes, if right methods 

 in growing and handling the crops is used. Apple growing along the 

 Missouri river can be made one of the most profitable industries. 

 Although not all men could have the opportunity for direct sales as 

 Mr. Beavers has had, yet if men engaged in this work will cooperate, 

 to market their fruit, as good returns can be obtained as Mr. Beaver's 

 has done. Mr. Beavers was asked what he valued his farm at. He 

 said $1,000 an acre. And it is worth that and more when he can get 

 an average of almost three hundred dollars per acre gross returns 

 during adverse weather conditions such as has been experienced the 

 past three years. Where could he invest his money to bring any better 

 returns than his Nebraska apple orchard is bringing in. Mr. Beavers 

 is not an exceptional man as compared with other men and his success- 

 ful orcharding experience can be duplicated by hundreds of others in 

 years to come. Nebraska apples are without a peer as to flavor keep- 

 ing qualities, and color and if the right methods are followed will 

 produce as great net returns on the investment as apples grown in 

 anv section of the country. In "Independent Farmer," 



